Fathers in the Small Things

This is a post that I thought I would not really post up because, well, things have not always been the best with me and my father.  When I was a teen I had a hard time connecting with my father because of some family things occurring at the time.  But yet, here I am posting something about my dad.  Something that I am grateful for.

I am not often at home since I am in college and in my final year (nose to the computer screen for papers).  And that means that I only get, maybe once a weekend a month, if that.  And I usually don't have much time to get a good chat with my parents as I would often like to.  Now, I have been at home for Christmas break and have found something that has been a mind blow to me lately.  My father is a blessing to me in my life.

One of theses ways that he is a blessing in my life is that he is a guy that I can joke around with.  The other night I was with my fiancee and my parents watching a movie.  At one point in the movie my father and I just start laughing together at a joke, but it was like we would not stop.  That is one thing that throughout my childhood and teenage years I did have with my dad, I could joke and laugh with him.  Yes, at times, we both make terrible jokes (my fiancee and mother can attest to this), yet that was our thing.  And it was not just our thing, but it is almost simply just like a Wilson Men's thing.  It is our connection in the family, our way of blessing each other.

Another form of blessing that has been huge for me as a college student is that he was willing to help me out with some of the necessities that I use when I am at school.  My dad has very graciously allowed me to drive the van at school and use it as I need it.  Not only that but he has helped out with a majority of the car expenses and contributed to gas money every once in a while.  There are many other blessings that he has brought to me in this way.

One final thing that has been a huge blessing to me has been that he has always sought to make me feel welcome and heard at home.  This past break, I have talked with my dad over many different things that I have learned at school, which is really refreshing to show my knowledge of things.  He has been willing to accept my opinions and come to acknowledge them when we talk in other conversations.  This shows that he is wanting to know what I have learned and is willing to learn from it as well.

I bring about a challenge to you my followers and readers, look for where your dad is bringing you blessings.  It may be hard at first if your dad is distant or if you have not really put thought into it at first.  Yet, there is probably something or sometime where your dad has blessed you in some form.  I know it is not Father's Day yet, but do we need a special day to to be thankful for a our father's in the small things?  Not only take time to appreciate the blessings your father has been to you, but place it somewhere in your heart to hold on to, to be proud of your dad in how he is there for you, his child.

This another thing that needs to be understood, just putting that blessing from your father in your heart is not the only thing you must do, but you need to be a blessing to others.  I say this because an even greater father has blessed you with the blessing from your father.  It was through God that you have a father, period!  Now what is needed is that you should be a blessing to others.  When you ask for blessings from God and He delivers, you need to then bless others through your blessing.  Blessings are reciprocal to all people and are meant to be given to others.  Be a blessing.  It can be in the small things or in the big things, but be a blessing to someone.  Be like a parent to someone.

(Matt 7:10) So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him. NLT

Forlorn Realities - Weddings and Friends

Yesterday, I attended one of my close friend's wedding.  Now this wedding was different for me, this one had a bit of a shock that came along with it, even before the actual event itself.  This shock was not at all a bad one, but simply a moment of reflection and a realization of reality.  My friend who was getting married was my small group leader back when I was in Junior High at Hanover Missionary Church Youth Group (HMC Youth for short).  I had grown up with this man as a bit of a mentor throughout my life in different relationships with women, times at school, and a challenging voice in my development  musically in a band.  We had different opportunities as he would drive me home from band practice to have deep conversations and be able to, at times, simply joke around.  I really valued those times, sometimes it was the one thing that I looked froward to on Thursday nights.

Now I have just shared with you my past feelings and thoughts of this person and you may be wondering, "Well, then what is the problem?  What is the reality check?"  For me, I think what was hitting me was that after that time, we didn't have a lot of communication between us since I had gone to school and he had work back at home, yet he still invited me to his wedding.  Here I was going to one of my mentor's wedding and was able to see the blessing from God that we had prayed about different times in his car after band practice.  I got to see and be a part of this special blessing in his life.  I got to see a major transition happen in his life and have promised to be there for him through this major transition.  It was really touching that he was willing to allow me to be a part of that change in his life.  Me, one of his small group boys!

During the reception, I was able to hangout and party with one of my small group boys from back in the day when I was a Junior High Youth Worker at HMC.  Here he was working as the videographer at the wedding and was a close friend of the groom as well.  As I was there having fun with my little bro from small group, it came as a reality shock to me.  I have a similar connection with this young man as I have with the groom.  My small group boy could talk to me about anything and we would try and catch up as much as we could.  We were interested in each other's lives and were willing to be there for each other.  In eight months, we would be in a similar situation as I was in with the groom at the wedding.

It is amazing to realize that we can impact people in so many ways that we may not realize the full impact until we have experienced it ourselves.  All of us have impacted people in such a way that we have people who look up to us, but yet we may just think they are hanging out with us because we are the leaders.  There are some that are following you and will follow you in their hearts because you have done something for them or have impacted them in a way you didn't realize.  Your actions, your words, your leadership, is all an example for others to be guided by.  We are all leaders in action.  We are all grand speakers in someone's life.  We are all a huge impact to someone.

You are an impact in someone's life.

What about the Superheroes?

I, being the nerd that I am, have a really weird liking of superheroes. I find them quite appealing, even something to strive to understand more of. This is not an obsession, but trying to find out what it really means to be a hero.

Personally, I can't really say that I completely understand what the definition of a hero is. I wonder at times if even our society can even really define it for us. My concept of a hero is someone who stands out for the greater good of all people. That they are able to make some form of nobel cause for everyone to look up to and to get hope from. Someone who is able to look at impossible odds and say that there is a chance, who is willing to do anything to make that chance into a reality. Someone who is sought after for their strength and is looked up to when there are times of utter chaos.

As I look at these list of traits for a superhero I wonder, am I matching what I wish to strive in my own life. I am not trying to be down, but at times wonder where have I gone in my fight to save the world? I know who is the leading lady that I am going off to save, but I question something, am I strong enough to save here? A hero can look like he is amazing with the suit on in front of others, but is his strength able to fight for and protect the one he loves?

I guess that is where the super powers come in right. However, what is my superpower. I wonder, is it something that I must for master myself, or something that I have to discover on my own? Quite frankly, I don’t think it is something that I can find on my own or build on myself. I personally believe that my superpower is God. Though I don’t feel like I am strong enough at times to save my leading lady, God is there giving me strength. However this is not the only thing, since I am at times the one who is need of rescuing, my leading lady is actually a superheroine, that saves me with the same superpower. It is through our superpower that we have a purpose in helping the world, in saving one another. We do not need to do it alone or have to struggle with it by ourselves, if we depend on our superpower.